PH manifesto to focus on 10 promises in 100 days

Soo Wern Jun

SHAH ALAM: Pakatan Harapan (PH) today launched its official manifesto for the 14th general election (GE14), under the title “10 promises in 100 days, to build the nation and fulfill hope”.

PH chief secretary Saifuddin Abdullah told the crowd at the Ideal Convention Centre that the coalition will also be driven by five pillars containing 60 promises to be fulfilled over the next five years.

“The 200-page document, which took the coalition 15 months to complete, is a practical, not a populist, manifesto,” Saifuddin said.

The 10 promises that PH will implement within the first 100 days are: scrap the goods and services tax (GST), have targeted petrol subsidies, eliminate Felda settlers’ debts, enable housewives to contribute to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), streamline minimum wages, return the status of Sabah and Sarawak according to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), suspend PTPTN higher education fund repayments for those earning below RM4,000, have “healthcare” scheme for all, open investigations into scandals, and review mega projects.

“The manifesto is aimed at creating a better Malaysia in terms of the economy, race relations, strengthening of government institutions, foreign affairs and good governance, among others,” Saifuddin said.

Referring to the five pillars that will be the main focus of the manifesto, he said that the first two pillars are to focus on reducing the people’s burden and strengthening government institutions.

“The third pillar is to focus on people’s economy, while the fourth and fifth pillars are to decentralise powers for Sabah and Sarawak, and bring back the glory days of Malaysia.”

An overview of Harapan’s manifesto

Among others, the 138-page manifesto seeks to tackle the rising cost of living, should it capture Putrajaya.

This includes the promise of abolishing GST and tolls, in phases, as well as channelling fuel subsidies to targeted groups.

The document also tries to address the Malay agenda, while at the same time, listing out demands that have long been made by the Chinese and Indian communities.

The manifesto released in Shah Alam, also promises that Harapan would significantly reduce the power of the prime minister, including blocking the premier from holding any other portfolios and slashing by half, the allocation and the number of ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department.

Harapan also pledged to address the monopolies in the country, such as in the rice industry by Bernas and Astro in the satellite television industry.

The manifesto unveiling ceremony was attended by senior leaders of the coalition’s component party, such as Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad, president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and others.
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